Expansible cabinet



June 23, 1953 c. A. TROUTMAN EXPANSIBLE CABINET Filed July 13, 1951 INVENTOR CZMPEA/CE .4. recur/v4,

BY Q ye'mwmmz A9 1 ATTORNEYS Patented June 23, 1953 UNI D OTF F l C E CABINET iclarcnce A. TroutmamHighPoint, N. 10.

Application J ul-y 13, 1951,18erialNoi2'3fifi27 'ihis inventicn relates-to expansible cabinets, and more particularly'to an expansible cabinet base for atelevision or radio set.

It is among the objects .of the inventionvto provide :an improved -expansible cabinet which is adjustable. or variable in .vvidth toiaccommodate television or radio sets of different widths and can be locked in selected adjusted positions; which includes slidableelements extending between the side panels'of the cabinet for main-- tainin the side panels substantially parallel to each other while the cabinetis in expanded or contracted condition; which'is strong and rigid in construction to l safely support a heavy television lorsradio set; which has ashield or screen coveringthe frontpanel ofthe cabinet toconceal the relativelymovable portions of the front panel, thev screen being designed tocarry out the decorative motifxof a television set :to besupported on the cabinet; and which is economical tomanufacture, easy .to ;adjust,- and neat and attractive in appearance.

Other objects and advantages will become-apparent from a .considerationof the following vdescription and the-appendedclaims, in conjunc- @1011 With mpanyin Inna-win wherein:

figure]. is a perspective view of an-expansible cabinet illustrative of-the inventien;

:Figure 2, is a :cross :sectional view en the, line 2=+2 .of Figure 1; :and c "Figure 3 issa cross sectional-view 2 1 the in 3+3 of figural.

iv/ith .continuedtreferenceto the drawing, the cabinet comprises a pairofvertical side frames in and :H, :of open rectangular shape, disposed in spaced apart and substantially parallel relationshippto each ot-her,.;and apair of side panels 1'2 and alt formed of suitable material, such as plywoodgand also of rectangular shape, and being marginally secured to the frames l :and ll, respectively, so that the edges of the side panels are fiushowith the outer edges of t'he corresponding frames.

Lower and upper bars M and I5 of rectangular cross sectional shape extend from the righthandfframe "Ii! at the rear end of this frame and at the upper and lower corners of the frame. These i bars. extend perpendicularly fromthe inner side of the frame-ID and each-bar-is provided with a longitudinally extending groove of rec-- tang ular cross sectional shape in its forward side, as indicated at [6 and [1, respectively. Each of the bars 14 and I5 is also provided in the grooved portion thereof withalongitudinally extending slot, as indicated at I8 and i9. Gerner blocks 20 and 2! are secured betweenthe bars '14 and 15 and the corresponding topand bottom -rails22 and 2-3 oftheFframe lii'to maintain the bars -=substantiallyperpendicular to'the frame, and a reinforcing strip 2 6 extends along the inner side or" the :rear upright T25 of the frame between the corner blocks 28 and 2|.

Upper and 'lower horizontal bars 25 and T21 extend from the-rear end of the left-handframe H at its upper andiowencorners and are disposed substantially perpendicular to the iframe I l and held in perpendicular relationship thereto bycorner blocks, oneof which is indicated at 28, disposed'hetween the barsand the upper and "lower rails Of -the side "frame ll. 'Each of the bars 25 and 21 is .of-rectangular cross sectional shape and hasa width substantially equal to the =width:of the grooves 16 and H "in'the bars-l4 andlfi. Therbarszfi-and E21 overlap the bars 14 and I5 and are received in the grooves 16 and I? forsliding movement longitudinally of the bars and I5. .Each of the'bars 2.6 and 21hasan:aperturethereinhear its end remote from the side frame .H and "bolts 29 :and '36 extend through the apertures in .the bars .25 and "-27, respectively, and through the slots in the "related bars 1 .4 and 15 and carry wing nuts 3| and 32 on their ends at the rear sides .of the bars 14 and ie for clampingrthebarslfi and 26 and 15 and I2] J-together:in selected-positions of longitudinal adjustment relativeito each other.

Horizontal bars" 33 :and 13Aarez'fixed to and extend "laterally inwardly from the front end of the side frame "I10, oneJat the upper and one. at the lower "front corner of this frame and are disposed substantially perpendicular ;.to the frame 141'. These bars are braced in their perpendicul-arrelationship itoztherfrarne It by triangular corner tgblocks ;3.5 and :36 secured between the bars-313 and 34, respectively, and the top a'and'bottom rails-2-2.,andt'2=3 of'theframe Ii). Similar bars .3] :and :38 extend perpendicularly fromthe ,frontsend of theframe l I, one from the frontlupperacomer, zandione 'fromtherfront lower .corner :of -.:thisr;frame; substantially perpendiculamtovthe'iatter and arebraced in their perpendicular:relationship to "the frame by corner blocks 3:9:.and-: 48;disposed :onebetween the top barz3'lwand'zthe top rail iiilrof'the frame ll,.and the other between the bottom'bar 38 and the bottom rail 42 of the frame l I.

'iTheffront bars 33 and'34 are shorter than the corresponding rear bars lA and i5, andthe front bars 31 and 38 are shorter'thanthe corresponding-rear bars 26 -and 27 and do not overlap the bars 33 and 34, all of the front bars having their front faces substantially in the same vertical plane. The bar 33 has its end remote from the frame l spaced, at all times, from the adjacent end of the bar 31 while the bar 34 has its end remote from the frame in spaced, at all times, from the adjacent end of the bar 38.

A front panel 43 is secured on the front sides of the bars 33 and 34 and has its edges flush with the upper and lower edges of these bars and one edge flush with the front vertical upright of the side frame 10. A similar front panel 44 is similarly secured to the bars 31 and 38 and has its end edges flush with the upper and lower edges of these bars and one side edge flush with the upright of the side frame II. The front panels 43 and 44 have a width substantially equal to the length of the front bars and have their laterally inward edges somewhat spaced apart at all times.

The front bars 33, 34, 31 and 38 are provided with longitudinally extending slots 45, 45, 41 and 48 which also extend through the front panels 43 and 44. A third or front frame 49 of rectangular shape is disposed against the front surfaces of the front panels 43 and 44 and has a height substantially equal to the height of these panels. The front frame is provided with four apertures, and bolts, indicated at 50, 52 and 53 extend, one through each of these apertures and through the corresponding slots 45, 46, 41 and 48 of the front bars and carry wing nuts for clamping the front frame 49 against the front surfaces of the front panels 43 and 44.

With this arrangement, both the overlapping rear bars and the spaced apart front bars can be clamped in selected positions of longitudinal adjustment relative to each other, so that the side panels l2 and [3 of the cabinet, with the associated side frames, can be spaced apart at any desired distance within the limits of expansion of the cabinet, as determined by the length of the bolt receiving slots in the arms, the arrangement being such that the side panels of the cabinet are held in substantially parallel relationship to each other as they are moved away from or toward each other to expand or contract the cabinet.

A screen 54 is mounted in the front frame 49 and conceals the opening between the adjacent edges of the front panels 43 and 44. This screen, as illustrated, comprises a stiff backing plate 55 of suitable material, such as plywood or heavy cardboard, and a fabric covering 56 is stretched over the outer surface of the backing plate.

The corner blocks at the bottom of the cabinet are provided with caster 51 reaching below cabinet to support the latter for movement on a floor or other horizontal support.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. In an expansible cabinet, first and second vertical side frames, said first side frame having upper and lower rear horizontal bars fixed to and extending laterally inwardly from rear portions of said first frame and front upper and lower horizontal bars fixed to and extending laterally inwardly from forward portions of said first frame, said second side frame having upper and lower horizontal bars fixed to and projecting laterally inwardly from rear portions of said second side frame and upper and lower front horizontal bars fixed to and projecting laterally inwardly from forward portions of said second side frame, the rear lower bars of the side frames being in overlapping and sliding relation and the rear upper bars of the side frames being in overlapping and sliding relation, first means for clamping the overlapped rear upper and lower bars together in longitudinally adjusted relation to each other, the front upper and lower bars being shorter than the rear upper and lower bars and having their inwardly extending free ends in longitudinally spaced relation to each other, front panels secured to and extending between the upper and lower bars of each of said side frames, and a front frame slidably engaged with the front faces of said front panels, and second means acting between said front frame and said front panels for securing the front bars in longitudinally adjusted relation to each other.

2. In an expansible cabinet, first and second vertical side frames, said first side frame having upper and lower rear horizontal bars fixed to and extending laterally inwardly from rear portions of said first frame and front upper and lower horizontal bars fixed to and extending laterally inwardly from forward portions of said first frame, said second side frame having upper and lower horizontal bars fixed to and projecting laterally inwardly from rear portions of said second side frame and upper and lower front horizontal bars fixed to and projecting laterally inwardly from forward portions of said second side frame, the rear lower bars of the side frames being in overlapping and sliding relation and the rear upper bars of the side frames being in overlapping and sliding relation, first means for clamping the overlapped rear upper end lower bars together in longitudinally adjusted relation to each other, the front upper and lower bars being shorter than the rear upper and lower bars and having their inwardly extending free ends in longitudinally spaced relation to each other, front panels secured to and extending between the upper and lower bars of each of said side frames, and a front frame slidably engaged with the front faces of said front panels, and second means acting between said front frame and said front panels for securing the front bars in longitudinally adjusted relation to each other, said first and second side frames and said front frame being rectangular and comprising vertically spaced horizontal members and horizontal spaced vertical members connected to the horizontal members, a panel secured to the laterally outward side of each of said side frames, and a covering secured to the front side of said front frame. 1

CLARENCE A. TROU'IMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,300,533 Wessinger Apr. 15, 1919 1,928,936 Henricson Oct. 3, 1933 2,338,092 Brown Jan. 4, 1944 2,446,214 Cramer Aug. 3, 1948 

